Wikipedia article on the Effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous

(forwarded to us from AAHistoryLovers (at) yahoogroups.com)

"Wikipedia has now accepted the interpretation of the Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Outcome Rates which was given in 2008 by Arthur S., Tom E., and Glenn C. of the AAHistoryLovers.

See the Wikipedia article: "Effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous"

They only cite the original article in Note 14:

"Arthur S; Tom E., Glenn C (11 October 2008). Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Recovery Outcome Rates: Contemporary Myth and Misinterpretation."

But if you look at the whole Wikipedia article, you can see that they have entirely accepted the interpretation which Arthur, Tom, and Glenn put on the figures."

Download report here: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Recovery Outcome Rates: Contemporary Myth and Misinterpretation

Comment: It would seem (and contrary to those myths and misinterpretations put about by the anti-AA lobby and the propagandists for the cult "You're all doing it wrong" dogma) that we ain't doing that badly after all! Small (and extremely modest) pat on the back for Alcoholics Anonymous!

(our usual thanks to the member who directed us towards this information)

Alcoholics Anonymous Conference approved literature

With the increasing proliferation of “other” (ie. non conference approved) literature being dispensed at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings (or in some instances meetings that “represent” themselves as being such) we thought it would be helpful to direct newcomers (and others) to the relevant pages on the official AA website which contain information relating to our approved literature. If you come across anything (books, booklets, pamphlets, CDs, DVDs, wall notices, prompt sheets, “suggestions” etc) that is not included on the website then it is NOT conference approved and should be treated with some circumspection.. This is not to say that these sources are necessarily unhelpful (or that they have been “banned”) but then again some of the content is – how shall we say? - quite barking mad!

Alcoholics Anonymous website - literature section

Comment: A member has drawn our attention to the fact that the literature section on the site has now been dubbed a “Shop”. In our view this is most unhelpful to the Fellowship since it lends to our critics further ammunition in support of their claim (unsubstantiated) that AA is in any way involved in commercial activity. Nice one! Or how to shoot yourself in the foot!

We will also be introducing a section shortly which will include links to all conference approved literature (see here) which is now available free online together with some downloads relating to guidelines etc. It is our view moreover that ALL Alcoholics Anonymous literature should be provided free online and that hard copies should be made available at cost price only (this in line with our Traditions – specifically Tradition 7).

Happy reading!

Cheerio

The Fellas

For the edification of the Chairman (et al) of Poole Intergroup

Extract (in full) from 2010 edition of AA (GB) Guidelines:

“GUIDELINES for A.A. in Great Britain
From the General Service Office, P.O. Box 1, 10 Toft Green, York Y01 7NJ
SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES Revised January 2000 No. 3

GROUP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
(GSR)

Bill W said, “the strength of our whole structure starts with the Group and with the General Service Representative (G.S.R.) that the Group elects”. Working via the Intergroup the GSR is the Groups` link with the General Service Conference, through which groups share experiences and voice AA’s collective conscience.

More from Bill W………..

“The G.S.R.- as the general service representative is known - has the job of linking his or her group with A.A. as a whole. The G.S.R. represents the voice of the group conscience, reporting the groups’ wishes to the committee member and to the delegate, who passes them on to the Conference and to the movement. For this, G.S.R.’s need the confidence of the group. They also need a good ear for listening. We all realize whatever “authority” there is in A.A. resides in the group conscience. Because of this, a G.S.R. can determine exactly what a group needs, what a group thinks about a situation, and can pass this information along to where it will be most useful in policy-making. This is a two-way street, allowing the G.S.R. to bring back to the group the problems and remedies that affect A.A. unity, health, and growth. To the extent that a G.S.R. keeps the group informed, then expresses the group conscience, only to that extent can the Conference feel it is acting for A.A. as a whole”. (From “The A.A. Service Manual”)

Responsibilities

The suggested responsibilities are:-

• Share with their group all Fellowship mail, communication and news items.
• Keep members informed about local service activities.
• They may be contacts for referral to carry the AA message.
• GSRs can also help their Group solve problems by drawing upon the facilities of the General Service Office in York where the staff is ready to relay helpful AA experience from all over the World.
• They can help see that up-to-date group information for the AA directory is sent promptly to GSO.
• The GSR is the vital link in the chain of two way communication between the Group and Intergroup. Each represents his or her Group at Intergroup service assemblies, sharing experiences with neighbouring GSRs in workshops and sharing sessions.
• Prior to attending Intergroup Meetings, fully discuss agenda items with the Group.
• Represent and express the Group’s conscience at all Intergroup Meetings. The GSR should faithfully express the Group’s opinions whatever his or her feelings maybe: thus putting principles before personalities.
• Following Intergroup report back to the Group.
• The GSR has a responsibility to attend all such meetings and, if this is impossible, to brief thoroughly an alternate, chosen by the Group to stand in.
• Encourage observers to attend Intergroup in order to foster their interest in the Fellowship and sponsor other members into Service.
• Only GSR’s and members of the Intergroup Committee are entitled to vote at Intergroup meetings.
• It is the GSR’s responsibility to know the Group so well that should unexpected matters come before the Intergroup meeting he or she will have a fair idea of Group’s conscience.

Qualifications

Groups should take due care in electing their GSR, giving particular regard to the following:

• It is suggested that the GSR should have at least two or three years’ continuous sobriety and preferably not hold any other Group office. (It should be remembered that the GSR may be eligible for candidature as a Regional representative or as a Conference delegate).
• The GSR should have a working knowledge of the AA publications referred to in the introduction
• The GSR should have a good knowledge of the structure of AA.
• The GSR should be a regular weekly attender at his or her own Group and therefore be able, should necessity arise, to stand in for any other officer of the Group who is unable to be present.
• The GSR should be prepared to serve for a minimum of two years.”

(our emphases)

Comment:
To reiterate:

“We all realize whatever “authority” there is in A.A. resides in the group conscience”

and under Responsibilities:

“Represent and express the Group’s conscience at all Intergroup Meetings. The GSR should faithfully express the Group’s opinions whatever his or her feelings maybe: thus putting principles before personalities.”

We also refer the Chairman (see here) to the “Structure of Alcoholics Anonymous in Great Britain” (taken from AA website archives). If he and and his associates are unwilling to accept the expressed conscience of the constituent groups of Poole Intergroup then he (and his supporters) have really only one option – to resign! If he (and they) should fail to do so (which we strongly suspect will be the case – this type rarely do!) then a vote of no confidence should be proposed and if carried the intransigent Intergroup officers should be removed from their positions with immediate effect. Whichever line of action is taken failure by this Intergroup to act in accordance with the conscience of the groups brings it (and AA) into disrepute and is a direct breach of Tradition Two. We cite accordingly:

“For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.”

Cheers

The Fellas

The peasants are revolting at Poole Intergroup!

“Poole Intergroup unravelled in disarray after a contentious vote on whether to accept the Road to Recovery group. 11 GSRs carried a ‘no’ Conscience from their groups, gaining the majority decision. This outcome was completely unacceptable to our now not so benevolent Chairman, and deemed ‘illegal’ and ‘uninformed’ by his wife, a self-declared expert on all matters Traditional and Guideline. Our President, his First Lady and the party faithful flatly refused to accept the Ultimate Authority as expressed in the Group Conscience and the ensuing triumph of disunity tells us all we need to know.

It was all a bit of a bloodbath. GSRs didn’t much like the implication that their members are revolting peasants. Members present didn’t much care for the implication that the Conscience was not ‘loving’, nor did we like all the frantic ‘I am definitely right and you’re wrong!’ statements, quotes and arm-waving put downs from our First Lady & co.

‘But I’m a member of AA if I say I am', pleads the Road to Recovery Representative, accusing us of prejudice (that old chestnut). An NA refugee to the CA meeting which Wayne P and henchmen converted over night to an AA meeting a la Plymouth, he is, and will be welcome, for sure, at an AA meeting, where the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. Trouble is, he doesn’t go to any, apart from Intergroup, and then there is trouble, all hell breaking loose around what he represents, as he sits quietly playing with his pen.

An old timer joined in at the last, to make the indisputable point to Poole that ‘the Loving God didn’t want them at Intergroup last time and He didn’t want them in Bournemouth either’.

Keep at it Fellas, we haven't heard the last of it.”


Comment: All of the above is highly reminiscent of the West Kent Intergroup fiasco of a couple of years ago. Yet another not so “humble servant” Daaayyyviidd (ex-chairman) with the aid of various cult cohorts (primarily Glynne “The Incredible Hulk” and Barbara “Cults are a Good Thing” K) misdirected the assembled GSRs with the claim that they were quite entitled to go against the vote of their group consciences arrogating to themselves the rights of “delegates” as opposed to “representatives” when it came to exercising their various “Right(s) of Decision” and “Right(s) of Participation” blah blah blah (three of those GSRs subsequently acted accordingly - see West Kent section of site for more detail on this). Even so a majority of groups voted for the removal of the Strood axis of cult groups and again the collective conscience of AA in the area was disregarded by a clique of almost breathtakingly arrogant Intergroup officers. Various references were made at that time to the Concepts, and then to assorted Warranties with allusions moreover to “consultations with York” (Ooooohhhhh! Sharp intake of breath!! Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!!) thrown into the pot (although we're still not at all sure what York has to do with any of this, since, and according to a member of our acquaintance, GSO is nothing more than an administrative centre doubling up as a “bookshop”) to fudge even further the issue in question: ie. should we continue to countenance cult groups within Alcoholics Anonymous which systematically abuse, and in some cases slaughter newcomers, granting them thereby licence to operate with impunity, and completely unchallenged – or then again should we not? Still such matters really are of little importance and what does it matter indeed if a few new members choose quite selfishly (and self pityingly) to take their own lives! Nothing could be more important surely than presenting a united front to the world and preserving the inalienable rights of cult groups and members to persecute anyone who does not quite 'fit' the AA profile, or who shows any sign of thinking for themselves. PERISH THE THOUGHT! (the operative word being the first!). For our cult readers (and we know you're out there!) that last bit was irony just in case you didn't quite GET IT!

Cheers

The Fellas

(our usual thanks to this AA member for their contribution)

Tradition Eight

Short form:

“Eight—Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centres may employ special workers.”

Long form:

“8.—Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional. We define professionalism as the occupation of counselling alcoholics for fees or hire. But we may employ alcoholics where they are going to perform those services for which we might otherwise have to engage non-alcoholics. Such special services may be well recompensed. But our usual A.A. "12 Step" work is never to be paid for.”

(our emphases)

Again a pretty straightforward bit of advice. Administrative functions have to be carried out and whereas a lot of key work can done by AA volunteers things like office management, literature distribution etc need to be conducted by full timers, and bills after all do have to be paid somehow! AA however is NOT in the business of providing employment and whereas such individuals should always be paid the full market rate for their skills this sector should be kept to an absolute minimum consistent with providing an optimum service. The key element of this tradition from our point of view however is the one we have emphasised. This statement is itself pretty unambiguous although what constitutes “12 Step” work might be debated. In the narrowest possible sense this could refer simply to those members who go out on 12 Step calls ie. to contact and possibly meet up with potential newcomers to the Fellowship. However we prefer to use it in the widest possible sense ie. any activity which involves carrying the AA message to the still suffering alcoholic. This would therefore include practically everything that takes place in AA (apart from those administrative functions mentioned above). So for example it would seem to us that the practice of charging entrance fees to so-called “workshops” (or any similar activity) is entirely contrary to this principle and forms no part of genuine AA. Such functions (where they are necessary, and this itself is a moot point to be debated perhaps at another time!) should rather be funded purely by voluntary contributions ie. by the amount designated by the attendee and NOT determined by the organiser(s) of the event. In the case of AA (weekend) conventions however (and where accommodation is required) it is entirely legitimate to include an element to cover such costs (ie. where they form part of a 'package') but not for attendance at the meetings themselves (the costs of which should be met again by the “voluntary contributions” of those attending). In our view day conventions are much easier to administer since these generally do not require such provision and serve mostly members from the local area. We regard the larger conventions (and especially the international ones) to be of dubious value in terms of carrying the AA message and believe that these serve mostly a “consolidating” function, that is in providing a platform to reinforce the sense of a wider community within AA. However in these times of modern communications it seems to us rather archaic to continue to indulge these “tribal” gatherings and believe that such a function can just as easily (and certainly more economically) be carried out via the various electronic media. The same principle might also be applied to the AA Conference and the various other service functions which up until now might have required members to travel some distance (with all the associated costs). We live (just in case you haven't noticed) in financially straitened times and AA is by no means exempt from such realities. Economies need to be made and all wasteful expenditure cut. However none of this should affect our ability to help the still suffering alcoholic. This service has always been provided FREE OF ANY CHARGE.

So atheists can recover in Alcoholics Anonymous as well!

[Daily Telegraph - Published: 12:01AM BST 26 Aug 2006]

"Bill Linskey, more commonly known as "Dartmoor Bill", who died on Tuesday aged 85, was the longest-sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous in Britain and Europe, having not touched a drink for the past 53 years.

While serving with the Merchant Navy during the Second World War, Linskey survived two sinkings and a shipwreck; his life later fell apart due to alcoholism and he served five years in Dartmoor prison for assault, emerging in May 1953 with the conviction that he must never drink again. The first British AA meeting had been held on March 31 1947 at the Dorchester Hotel in London. By 1953 there were only four in the capital (today there are more than 700), and Linskey found one in Chandos Street, behind the Edgware Road. He immersed himself in AA's "12 Steps", and remained sober. By the 1960s he was a husband and father, making a living as a street-trader; he also trained as an electrician and found stage-lighting work around the West End theatres.

Concerned that there was no established AA meeting in the East End, where problem-drinking was endemic, Linskey made it his mission to make the Fellowship better known. In March 1965 he and a fellow-member called at Toynbee Hall, the charity based near the Aldgate. The Warden, Walter Birmingham, heard them out, then showed them into an ornate hall with magnificent oil paintings and leather armchairs; would this do for a meeting place? When Linskey protested that AA could not possibly afford to rent such a place Birmingham said they could have it for nothing. Linskey explained that AA insisted on being self-supporting, and a nominal rent was agreed.

For many months, Bill and a fellow recovering alcoholic, the actor Robert Urquhart, occupied two comfortable chairs around a table waiting for people to come. At first no one did. But the two men persevered, and gradually the meeting attracted people with a drinking problem. The Toynbee Hall meeting continues today, every Wednesday night. In March last year it celebrated its 40th anniversary, the members raising a soft drink to Dartmoor Bill.

William Linskey was born on February 24 1921 into the poverty of Jarrow. His mother died when he was seven, and aged 14 he went to London in an unsuccessful attempt to find work. On the outbreak of war he joined the Merchant Navy, stoking the engines in supply ships. He was unsurpassed as a bare-knuckle boxer, both on board ship and in the rougher ports at home and abroad. Linskey survived the sinking in the South Atlantic of the Ashby, which was torpedoed 200 miles from land. He and a few others spent seven days and nights in an open lifeboat until a clever young first mate steered them to the Azores with a compass.

Next Linskey served on the Arctic convoys carrying cargoes of food and weapons to the Soviet Union. He worked on Russian soil, unloading ships in Archangel after enduring hazardous voyages across the North Atlantic.

When a torpedo sank the Empire Beaumont, part of the convoy PQ18, Linskey was again lucky to survive. He was picked up by a Russian trawler and taken back to Archangel, where he learned Russian and acquired a taste for moonshine vodka. In an attempt to get back to Britain, he signed on to an American ship, whose skipper was even better acquainted with vodka than Linskey. The ship hit an iceberg and sank; again a Russian ship came to the rescue. In 1995 Linskey was one of 200 seamen taken to Murmansk and honoured with a medal for their part in what the Russians call the "Great Patriotic War". Linskey was discharged from the Merchant Navy in 1943, probably suffering from what would now be recognised as post-traumatic stress syndrome. His wartime marriage to Mary McAlinden collapsed, and for four years he led a nomadic existence, drinking heavily, until he was sent to Dartmoor for his part in a drunken assault.

"I was not, by nature, a violent man," he later said, "but drinking changed me. I was fortunate that Wyn [his second wife, Winifred Riddell] stayed with me, and we married soon after I completed the full term in prison, much of it in solitary."

Although Linskey remained an atheist, he came to believe in what he viewed as the many "miracles" seen at AA meetings as alcoholics managed to achieve sobriety. When Wyn died from leukaemia in 1967 he had been sober for 13 years, and he found no strong temptation to drown his sorrows. He met his third wife, Eunice, at Toynbee Hall in 1967, and they married in the same year.

Dartmoor Bill reached his half-century of sobriety in May 2003, and hundreds of AA members celebrated with him at a party given by Eunice at a church hall in Chelsea. Despite the onset of asbestosis, he spoke loud and clear for half an hour, regaling the company with his experience and sense of hope, insisting: "If you don't take the first drink, you can't get drunk."

He is survived by his third wife, and by a daughter of his second marriage."

(See also: "No Longer Required: My war in the merchant marine" by Bill Linskey - Published by Pisces Press 1999, ISBN 0 9537285 0 1)